Pronunciation: pri- ' si-p ə - ˌ t ā t
Function: verb
Inflected Form: -tat · ed ; -tat · ing
Etymology: Latin praecipitatus, past participle of praecipitare, from praecipit-, praeceps
Date: 1528
transitive verb
1 a : to throw violently : HURL <the quandaries into which the release of nuclear energy has precipitated mankind ― A. B. Arons> b : to throw down
2 : to bring about especially abruptly < precipitate a scandal that would end with his expulsion ― John Cheever>
3 a : to cause to separate from solution or suspension b : to cause (vapor) to condense and fall or deposit
intransitive verb
1 a : to fall headlong b : to fall or come suddenly into some condition
2 : to move or act precipitately
3 a : to separate from solution or suspension b : to condense from a vapor and fall as rain or snow
– pre · cip · i · ta · tive \ - ˌ t ā -tiv \ adjective
– pre · cip · i · ta · tor \ - ˌ t ā -t ə r \ noun